Provenance

After the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo Parliament agreed to purchase an estate and residence for the Duke of Wellington. The manor of Stratfield Saye was purchased by the nation in 1817 and granted to the Duke 'to beheld to him and his heirs of the king and his heirs and successors as of his castle of Windsor in free and common soccage by fealty and rendering to his majesty, his heirs and successors on the eighteenth day of June [the date of the Battle of Waterloo] in every year at the Castle of Windsor one tri-coloured flag for all manners of rents, services, exactions and demands whatever.' [ Put simply 'given on condition the owner should pay an annual tribute to the sovereign of a tri-colour in lieu of rent and other consideration'.] The tricolour is a copy of the French banners captured at the battle. The banner for the current year is displayed in the Queen's Guard Chamber at Windsor Castle.